On Sept. 9, the varsity and junior varsity girls field hockey teams made a switch to their practice schedule ahead of all other fall sports still maintaining their morning schedules. Instead of practicing before school, they are now practicing in the afternoon.
From the beginning of the school year until Sept. 9, field hockey athletes practiced from 6:20 a.m to 8 a.m.
Sophomore Jenna Stenberg said that the morning practices were not a burden for her.
“At first, everyone was kind of drowsy, but then we all got more excited as it went along, and as we gradually woke up,” Stenberg said.
This routine was scheduled to stay in place for all fall sports until the week of Sept. 23. However, Varsity Field Hockey Coach and Physical Education Teacher Brittany Hawkins decided it was best to switch sooner.
“The switching of the times was purely for weather,” Hawkins said. “We could not play in the afternoons because it was just too hot to run in, but now, the weather has calmed down a bit.”
Additionally, Hawkins says this is a positive switch because it allows the players to adjust to the weather and prepares them for their afternoon games.
“We play in [hot weather],” Hawkins said. “So, regardless, we are going learn how to manage it.”
The players have mixed opinions on the abrupt change. Some say they enjoyed getting practice over with in the mornings, while others think afternoon practices are more productive and rewarding.
Sophomore Valentina Rojas says she felt that morning practices were more enjoyable.
“It was obviously hard to wake up that early, but I liked the nicer weather,” Rojas said. “You could see the sunrise, and I think that we were in a more attentive mood and not distracted from the day.”
Rojas also addressed that the players lost time after school to complete their schoolwork.
“I think people are happy that they do not have to wake up as early and get here as early, but sadly they do not get to go home right after school and do homework to be more productive,” Rojas said.
On the contrary, senior Amanda Park, a team captain, says she believes that having practice after school gives the players a place to decompress after a long day.
“I think that afternoon practice is better because instead of starting the day with practice and thinking about all the stuff you have to do that day, the day is almost over,” Park said. “It is somewhere where you could go for an outlet, and even if you had a bad day, you can leave that in the past.”
